Shaped Like a Bowling Ball

My daughter has a cat...not just the ordinary cat but then I am quite sure none of them are. He decided to come and live with her when my grandchildren were still children. The oldest is 27 years old now and was less than ten when the cat arrived. He lived in the front yard laying in wait for the garage door to open where food for other animals was available. After all, a cat needs to eat!

But his need for food did not include being owned by anyone so he was very illusive. We all chased him...at night Teghan the dog and two grandchildren. During the day...I was chosen. I was the Nanny of sorts and the need for order did not include a stray cat in the front yard. It was a very long time before anyone was able to catch him.

So off to the animal shelter he went. My daughter was chosen to take him to the "animal shelter/gas chamber". My daughter did not know that place was like that. She was sure the cat would get to go live on the farm and have a barn all to himself. She arrived only to be told that they would gas him because he was "feral". Back home he came.

His ear was clipped branding him as a "bad cat", he lost his manhood and lived in the cat cage until they were sure he was not going away. I had to remind them that the cat was impossible to get rid of so there was no worries on that front.

They named him Vincent Van Gogh the Cat...Vinnie for short. 

Over the years Vinnie lost half of his tail in an unrecorded incident, has on several occasions decided to live under the house and has eaten 1 whole ton of cat food. His life for several years has revolved around the garage where his food dish is always full.  He is so big now that when he squeezes under the house, he cannot get out. That maneuver requires a big human with long arms.

He is shaped like a bowling ball and, if he turns over on his back, he is like a turtle and can not put himself right side up. When he runs, I am reminded of a waddling seal.

When my daughter and her husband leave town I get to visit Vinnie twice a day. His disdainful attitude makes me wonder just why I am walking to his house but I guess I need the exercise so it is okay. Occasionally, he is is delighted to see me and will snuggle on the couch with me. Others he does not even lift his head.

I do love this old soul. He is, like every other cat, one of a kind. 

How's your cat today?

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The Need to Nurture in Retirement

Bob Lowry posted a piece on Satisfying Retirement the other day about owning pets and all the benefits that an animal can have for a retiree. It was very interesting and in fact important. I found that surprising! In my world animals are just there. I have a dozen grandchildren and a family that value me in so many ways. I am a natural nurturer and I thought that need was satisfied by my family. The wonderful pets we have owned have always been relegated to the outdoors when small children or the family came to visit.

But after I read Bob's article, I began to reflect on all the things our pets have done for us over the years. They have provided comfort and entertainment. Our children learned to nurture from our Momma Kitty and stand their ground from our fierce toms. The love our Dachshunds had for our cats taught them that being different is not a bad thing. They witnessed life and death up close and personal. They suffered the angst of loss at an early age. It was all a good learning experience for them.

After we retired and our children were grown, we were still the caregivers for 4 pets. Two cats  lived for 12 or more years and a the Dachshunds lived to be over 17. I thought that not having a pet would be a relief in many ways.

We led a lifestyle without the company of an animal for several years. It was different in so many ways. Easier yes but better?  Not at all. My husband and I both felt an empty spot in our hearts. Still we waited as though we somehow knew that a furry soul was out there and it would find us.

And find us it did...in the most unexpected place you could ever imagine. We were in our RV staying in a trailer park close to the freeway and next to the river in Corpus Cristi, Texas. Our neighbors were living a life that depended on fishing and frugal living. Unfortunately, cats were not wanted and certainly no one could afford to feed them. A trap had been set to catch strays so they could be destroyed.

RV the Cat

I think someone had dumped kittens near the trailers in the spring and the babies had been living off what remained after the fishermen cleaned their fish. Boats would pull out in the morning and return at sunset. The cats would scurry from every direction when they heard the boat motors approaching. 

My husband was fascinated by the whole process and watch each evening as the cycle came to a close for the day. He talked about the black cat for several days. My husband may be the Doctor Doolittle of our family because he seems to attract creatures for no reason at all. 

One evening the cat followed Doctor Doolittle home. It melted my heart when he turned back into that little boy he was at one time...Can I keep him? he asked. I was not surprised when the black cat came in, laid down on our couch and never left. That was over 10 years ago and the cat still sleeps on our couch and corner of our bed at night no matter where we are. He even travels with us most of the time. We have seen what happens when he is left with someone or to his own devices. We know that he needs us and that is very important.

In our retirement and as we age, it seems RV fills so many needs. We watch him climb fences and stalk possums. He talks to us in no uncertain terms demanding water, food, snacks and escape. He loves my husband and tolerates me. We laugh at him and talk about him with friends. He even helps my husband and I communicate with each other. The very fact that he depends on us fulfills our need to nurture another creature. He is so important to our mental health and social interaction that I cannot imagine being without a pet like him ever again in our lives.

So thank you Bob. Your post made me think. That is a very good thing.

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Park Model living with cats and dogs! There are rules!

RULES IN THE RV PARK
Do RV resorts allow pets?  And if they do what will be the restriction?  These are very valid questions and ones that you need to ask before you park your RV, buy or rent a park model.  RV resort are much like motels when it comes to our pets.   In our RV resort there are two locations that pets are allowed.  At the back of the park there is a block of lots that are designated for pets called "Doggy Row".  On that street people can have a pet in their park models and can walk their animal on a leash on the streets.  Access to a back gate allows those pet owners to walk their dogs in Pantano Wash.  It is assumed that if you buy in that location you are not going to be compaining about barking dogs...you will know they are going to bark.  Pets are also allowed in the RV spaces and the gate is close by so owners can walk their pets outside the park.  The plan has worked very well for many years.  If you are a cat owner and can keep your cat indoors, you can have the pet anywhere in the park.  But don't think you can let that cat out to wander around, even at night.  I suppose that if I wanted to walk my cat, I would need to have the cat on a lease and put it in the car to take it to a designated walking area.  It is just the rules and everyone follows them.


PETS IN THE RV
We traveled with a cat one winter after the cat adopted us in the middle of our vacation.  It was not an easy thing to do but I know that a lot of people take their cats and dogs along in their motor homes.  There are window boxes that can be installed in a window that opens so you cat or small pet can sit inside and see what is going on in the outside world.  I always thought one of those would be cool.  I am sure that Camping World has just the things you need to make your pet at home.   My cat was a "pill" so he never was allowed to travel with us again.  However, we are considering bringing him to the desert with us next year.  We miss him when we are gone.

If you choose to take your pet with you, just remember the rules I mentioned above are very typical of RV Resorts.  While they love their animals they have rules about their place.  

WHY KEEP YOUR PET?
In the United States 63% of all households own pets.  According to Pets Help "pets are like "emotional vitamins." If you feel better psychologically and emotionally, every system in your body is going to function more efficiently. The 65-plus population, particularly vulnerable to loneliness and stress-related diseases, can reap enormous benefits from pet companionship."  In a word pets help keep us healthy.  The choices you make about your pet really does matter.

Happy travels and have a wonderful day.

LINKS YOU MIGHT FIND INTERESTING
Retiree Rethinking Destination Plans
Pets Help Senior Citizens
Baby Boomer Issues

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